Monday, 30 November 2009

I am completely obsessed with Coleen and Jason Donovan's Iceland advert, the one where they are at the party and are singing to the tune of 'Well Did You Evah?'. At long last I found it online so I thought I'd learn the lyrics, and now I know them by heart - joy! You can learn them too!

LYRICS:ColeenHave you heard the latest news?We've found the cure for the Winter blues!

(Party!)

JasonWell did you ever, what a swell party this is!

ColeenNow have you heard of my friend Dawn?

JasonYes, she just slipped off with a platter of prawns!

(No?!)

JasonWell did you ever!

Party guests)What a swell party this is!

ColeenThese bagels, they're new!

(smoked salmon!)

ColeenThese duck nests are too!

ChildQuack quack!

JasonMore turkey? Of course! Do you know he eats like a horse!

GirlYou're not kidding!

Small boyYou know what's in these please?

ColeenThey're chocolate coated strawberries!

Small boyWow!

JasonMeringue, Coleen?

BoyHey, they look fun!

ColeenNo thanks, Jason! Just have this chocolate one!

AllWell did you ever, what a swellegant, ellegant party this is!

END-----------------

Don't you just love it? Below is the link to the video if you wish to view it and sing along!

Monday, 23 November 2009

Paul O'Grady's beloved shih tzu-bichon frise cross, died of cancer aged 14 on the 19th November 2009. He had a long successful television career alongside O'Grady, and I felt it was necessary to just say a few words about the lovely little dog.

Many scrambled to their telephones to enter the Nodding Buster Tombola during each Paul O'Grady Show in the hope that they would be the lucky winner who would receive a little nodding Buster through the post. Buster was loved by all - a sweet, entertaining and adorable bundle of fluff. His cheeky nature led him to play shy in front of the camera at times, bringing the audience out in an unanimous 'aw'. A companion to Paul, a friend to the viewers and an all-round lovable soul, Buster's cuddly nature will be missed by all, and indeed never forgotten.

R.I.P little Buster.

Amy x

The tribute the Paul O' Grady Show put together for Buster:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3m14n7gI3E

Wednesday, 18 November 2009

I made no intentions to watch 'I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here' this year. I hadn't seen it properly in a few years, and didn't think it was something I would still enjoy. Though after watching the second episode (I had a cat on my knee and couldn't get up to change the channel) I found myself hooked straight away.

Okay so I knew of two people in the Jungle: Kim Woodburn and Lucy Benjamin. I made up my mind straight away - Lucy to win, Kim to come second, and after that I couldn't care. Though it seemed that my opinion was distorted almost instantly when I discovered that Katie Price was going back into the Jungle...

I can only remember Katie being in the Jungle the first time round in 2004 very vaguely. So for me I was treating this as if it were her first time in the Jungle. Straight away I noticed a lot of mixed views on Twitter being thrown about over Katie's return, and I found myself landing in a few heated debates over the issue too. Though it seemed I was the only one sticking up for Katie when others were shouting off their hateful comments.

One thing people need to realize is that the media can often twist things. I'm not saying Katie is an angel, but there is a great chance that a lot of what she gets up to is blown way out of proportion. I think a lot of Peter Andre fans are sticking by him no matter what, sporting their 'Team Andre' motto whenever possible (including the lovely Ant!). Though is it fair to take sides? Behind closed doors, maybe Peter was not as perfect as people make him out to be. I personally do not think he is a bad person, but you just never know what goes on.

It's clear that the public are rather cruel! I mean, voting Katie to do two Bush-tucker trials in a row is insane. Yet Katie does not complain, and just gets on with the tasks like a good friend would. She's strong minded, and for that I admire her greatly. I have a feeling she is going to do wonderfully in tonight's challenge 'Celebrity in a Bottle' too, but here's hoping there's no water involved. That's just mental torture for her.

I hope Katie goes all the way to the end, and comes out a winner. She deserves happiness. She clearly has a good heart and means well. So what if she likes to let her hair down now and again. We all have different ways of releasing stress and pushing the weight off our shoulders. She's incredibly beautiful and has a big heart behind a chest to match. Katie Price, you're always going to be a winner with me.

Sunday, 15 November 2009

When I first heard David Tennant was stepping down as the Doctor, I cried. Of course I did. He is utterly gorgeous and simply amazing. Though thankfully we still had four more episodes to get through before his departure. And the 15th November brought episode two: Waters of Mars.

I'd seen the trailer for the episode and thought it looked okay. Not brilliant, but watchable. I wasn't overly sure what it was going to be about, so as the excitement built up inside me throughout the day, I was ready to explode by the time 7pm arrived. As soon as I saw Tennant in his orange space suit though, my heart sank a little. It seemed that this episode turned out to be a cross between The Impossible Planet (Series 2) and Silence in the Library (Series 4). Don't get me wrong, I adore those episodes, but I was looking for something a bit different.

The idea behind the episode itself is quite interesting though. I mean, contaminated water? It's so simple yet so genius. It's one of those episodes that can scare people so easily. With Blink (Series 3), you had the Weeping Angels. Doomsday made Canary Wharf threatening. And now people are scared to drink their water. Utter genius. It's so beautifully written too, a tear was brought to my eye with every word the Doctor muttered. There's something magnificent about David's eyes, they're so breathtaking. He really does melt my heart.

When the Ood appeared at the end, I screamed. Literally. I had no idea that they were connected with the final episodes. Actually, as much as I love them, I was a little disappointed by this. I think they stress the Ood a bit too much. I mean they have appeared in two series' to date, and I think that is enough. I just do not find them 'special' enough for the show. I wanted the daleks to be involved, and who knows what they have in store for Christmas and New Year, but I don't like this anticipation! I'm thrilled that Donna is back in the next episode, and the Master! I've seen pictures of Billie Piper and Camille Coduri back on the set too, which made me incredibly happy. Billie is the reason I initially carried on watching Doctor Who, she means the world to me, and it is only right that she is involved in Tennant's last episodes. I truly cannot wait.

Just two more episodes. That is all we have left. And then we have Matt Smith. Forget what they say about this being the beginning of the end, that will not happen until Smith becomes our 11th Doctor. When that happens after the regeneration, the show will go downhill. Ratings will drop and viewers will lose interest. That really will be the beginning of the end for Doctor Who. So until then we better enjoy the glories of David Tennant and our beloved Doctor as much as possible.

Monday, 2 November 2009

There's something so uplifting about Autumn. It brings Halloween: pumpkins, witches and ghosts galore. The colours are amazing: oranges, browns, plums. The cool breeze whips around your hair, pulling it back loosely. As you step outside the leaves crunch beneath your feet, the silver moon glistening down as you stride. The smells are luscious; spices, apples, cinnamon...smoke.

Yes, smoke. As with Autumn, you have November. And with November, you have Bonfire Night. The Halloween spirit has begun to die down – wigs and wands are being sold for 50p a piece in your local supermarket – and now the shelves are lined full with rockets, sparklers, gloves the lot. Everywhere you look there are posters about keeping safe, and plastered aside them information about the fire brigade can be found. There seems to be an uncanny fascination with being given permission to make something explode that one day a year. Is it worth the hassle though?

Of course, Remember Remember the 5th of November as the saying goes, is not all about fire works. It takes us back to the same day in 1605. The event that led us to marking the occasion became known as the Gunpowder Plot. On this evening, a number of people attempted to blow up the Houses of Parliament in London. The most recognised conspirator now is none other than Guy Fawkes. A warning letter had been received by the Parliament, which then led to a search of the grounds, and luckily the plot to blow up the building (and King James I) was stopped before it was too late. Thus resulting in the arrest and executed.

Now, we apparently celebrate Bonfire Night, o 'Guy Fawkes Night' in such a way to mark such an eventful and close night those many years ago. Yet, I feel that the whole reason behind the occasion is drifting. Not once do I see a poster or display about Guy, and I have a feeling that if I asked my younger siblings who Guy Fawkes was, I'd be met with blank looks. As a child though, I was well aware of this Mr Fawkes, and I did not like him one bit!

Bonfire Night for me as a child was very much a family occasion. Each year, we would all pile into my Grandma's house and have our evening meal, a hot cup of coffee for the adults and a cup of juice for the children. Afterwards, as the evening was just beginning to darken, we would wrap up warm in your thick jackets and cosy gloves, and head out into the garden. Filling a basin up with water, my Grandma would be greeted my squeals of delight from us children, who knew exactly what was happening. Then, as if it was the most magical thing in the world, the adults would produce packets of sparklers and give one to each of us. After making sure we were holding the sticks the right way around, our ends would be lit and before you knew it, you had three children dancing around the yard (safely!), creating wonderfully bright coloured swirls and shapes in the air. The smell was gorgeous – a sharp and seasonal aroma. I loved to write my name in the air, hoping for the pink colours to kick in. After the sparkler had frazzled out, we would place them carefully into the basin of water, and start the process all over again until all the packets were empty. It was such a magical occasion.

One year, we decided not to go to my Grandma's. Instead the whole family thought we should take a trip to a local family pub to watch a fireworks display. The Poacher's Pocket (which I believe at the time was called the Crowley Arms) held firework displays on Bonfire Night annually, though we only ever went once. The pub itself was wonderful, catering for everybody. On the night, we seated ourselves around a picnic table towards the bottom of the garden area, and myself and my two cousins spent a few hours running riot in the little play park, down the slide and scrambling across the monkey bars. That alone was great fun. I have always loved the Autumn breeze, so to be let free among it was simply delightful, especially with crunchy leaves and conkers all around me.

Then it was time for the fireworks display. In the centre there was a home-made Guy Fawkes – something again that I see very little of nowadays – and a rope was put around the display quite a distance back. Everybody at the pub gathered around, my family and I quite near the front so the little ones could see properly. There was lots of house hold items and general trash piled around the Guy, who was securely roped up and tied to a wooden stick. They lit the display, and we watched as the Guy doll burned. You could almost hear is squeals of pain, his little eyes melting as he stared at you accusingly. It was so sinister, and something I feel little children should not experience. Nonetheless it was still quite enjoyable.

After the display was cremated, it was time for the real display. From the other side of the rope, rockets and fireworks of all kinds were beginning to be set up. Catherine wheels could be heard slowly clicking, and before we knew it, rockets were screeching high into the sky and exploding into a burst of colour. I must admit, I adore seeing fireworks open up and reveal their true colours – gorgeous displays of pinks and silvers, flowers of purples and blue. Unfortunately, they have no mute button and I have to put up with their wails at the same time.

The Bonfire Night was the last time I ever celebrated the occasion. I cannot deny that it was an amazing evening, but after that, something must have clicked inside my brain, forcing me to fear for the evening. I have no idea what its cause is, but now I simply cannot bear being anywhere near fireworks. My neighbour had a display in the back garden a few years ago, and my bedroom window is right next to it, so I took myself off to the far corner of the living room at the other end of the tiny flat, terrified out of my mind. One year my Mam had to go to the shop in the evening on Bonfire Night, and I was not yet at the age when I could stay at home alone, so I had no choice but to accompany her. I feel sorry for my Mam, as I hung onto her arm the whole way there and back, shaking with fear as the rockets soared from all directions.

My Mam is getting married this year on the 5th of November, which is luckily for me not going to have anything to do with Bonfire Night. Though had the tickets not been £70+, we were going to be going to a large fireworks display in the North East. I am just pleased for overpriced entry fees in that case – how would I have got out of that one?! I love how fireworks look, but I am simply too petrified of them to have anything to do with them. Even sparklers terrify the life out of me.

I blame television. I watch EastEnders and Coronation Street religiously, and every year there seems to be an accident of some sort on either of the soaps, involving fireworks. It has got to the stage where I cannot watch the Bonfire Night episode, as that alone gives me shivers. The soaps are nail biting as it is, but that takes it one step too far for me. Its such a horrid thing to fear, as it will be the burden of my career. I have high hopes for what I want to achieve as a future TV Presenter, including the desire to present the big television events such as Children in Need and the Christmas shows. And what do you have at the end of each show? Fireworks! I can just see myself and a fellow male presenter as it usually goes, saying the final few words out to the nation before the last music acts takes to the stage. The fireworks explode somewhere in the near distance, and I hit the floor in fear. Well, it will give the viewers a laugh to say the least!

I had a lot of happy memories as a child with Bonfire Night. Those evenings 'at Grandma's' were wonderful, and that one fireworks display was an amazing experience. However the joys stop there. Maybe one day I will over come my fear, especially if my career were to depend on it, but this year I will spend the evening tucked up safe in my Mam's house while the siblings dance about in the yard all gloved up with sparklers in hand. As long as they have a good time, that is all that matters, and I shall cower with the dog!

Sunday, 1 November 2009

Gosh, it just occurred to me that I hadn't blogged throughout the whole of October. I feel so guilty!

When I first started this blogging business, I promised myself to commit fully. Though its a lot harder than it looks, as I soon found out. What are you supposed to publish? Who is actually going to read it? How often do you write? So many unanswered questions. Yet, despite the unknown, there's something thrilling about writing a blog. Its probably one of the only chances in live you'll get to 'voice' your opinion without anybody being able to answer back or interrupt. A one-woman debate, arguing back and forth with myself as I try and come to a conclusion over a meaningless discussion. And then of course there's the day dreaming and random waffling as you make your way through the afternoon. A cup of tea, a clear mind, and a working keyboard. With those you are fully equipped to write your blog (despite the fact that my keyboard is falling apart and missing several buttons!).

Its been quite a hectic few weeks, which makes a nice change. I finally said goodbye to school after a successful interview with college. As of this month I will be studying Radio at HNC level, something I am looking forward to incredibly. My aspiration in that side of my life is of course Jackie Brambles. I've been able to listen to a few of her radio shows and I must say, she is very good! I'm hoping to volunteer at the Hospital Radio too, but I've not heard anything back as of yet.

Of course, my heart lies with TV Presenting still. Always has, always will. With my UCAS application going away later this month, I really need to sort out my decisions for University. I think I've made up my mind though - I'm hoping to study Television Journalism at Middlesex University. The course sounds amazing, its close to the heart of London, and the Halls don't look too shabby either! Though failing that, my backup plan consists of Leeds Uni, Coventry Uni, Thames Valley Uni and Robert Gordons Uni...at least one of them must want me!

I'll have something else to add to my Personal Statement and CV as of next week...yes, there's only ten days until the Fashion Show! The last one, in aid of the Cyrenians, was a bit of a drag. We were using fair trade clothes as we combined the event with fair trade fortnight, and I must say - I wouldn't be caught dead in most of those clothes! Fortunately though this one is stepping up in class. We're hosting a Prom Dress fashion show, with suits and kilts too. And lucky me, I get to present the event! I'm so exciting, and so far the nerves have yet to kick in. If it's anything like last time, I will get to about ten minutes before I'm due on stage and totally freak out for that ten minutes, then stand on stage and all the nerves will flush away, smothered by a river of excitement. There's something so uplifting about being on a stage, microphone in hand. It's sensational!

I've never been the most confident of people when in public, but put me on stage and it's a whole other story. I have big dreams for my career, many of which are likely to remain just that. My biggest goal is to anchor Loose Women. Something I have wanted to do for two years, and will not stop wishing for until it becomes reality. Then there's 'Ghost Talk', a show that Amy and I are in the process of putting together. Think of it as the next generation of Most Haunted! I'd like to present some sort of programme that teaches children about History, opening their eyes to different eras: The Victorians, Ancient Egyptians, World War Two. An educational and entertaining programme for children around the age of seven - perfect! I'd love my own television show too, 'Amy's World' - a tea time show similar to 'The Paul O' Grady Show' and 'Davina'.

One of my biggest dreams, and probably the most unrealistic, is 'The McLean Show' - a show where Andrea and I present side by side, with a similar format to 'Amy's World', or perhaps traveling around the world (or on a lower budget, the UK) and exploring various destinations and landmarks. Many will know by now that Andrea McLean is indeed the woman at the heart of my career. During the lowest point in my life when I felt all was at loss, she somehow managed to restore my faith in everything, and forcing my passion for Presenting to take over and bring my happiness back to the surface. I owe everything to her, and when my career peaks, it will all be down to her and I will make sure she knows it!

Another thing I'd love to present one day is Children in Need. Every year I love watching it, and would give anything to experience that buzz as all the money comes rolling in to the charity, and you just know you are helping a good cause. Meeting those children that are overjoyed with simply being on TV and gaining new experiences from the money donated. Unfortunately, with so much going on towards the end of the year, I haven't had time to organize any fund raising events myself for Children in Need, but I shall be donating money, and I've bought my t-shirt, ears and teddy bear, so that's a little bit of extra money for them too!

With Christmas just around the corner - 54 days to be exact - I find myself already getting into the festive spirit. I'm beginning to play 'Last Christmas' by Billie Piper constantly, and I find myself singing various traditional Christmas carols whilst going about cleaning the house. I'm going away for the holidays this year, down to my Mam's, so it is going to be quite a change from the last few years which I spent pretty much on my own! I've done about half of my Christmas shopping too, so I'm well on the way to a peaceful December 25th!

With a busy week ahead of me, it doesn't look like I'm going to have time to sit down much, so until next time, I bid you goodbye!